Cal. Gov. Code § 18941

Any former state employee who was dismissed from state service pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 19500) of Division 5 of this part may petition the department to be permitted to take a civil service examination in order to establish eligibility for appointment to state service. The department may grant such a petition for a particular examination or may grant the petition for any or all future examinations. If the department denies the petition, the former state employee may appeal that decision to the board.